"Can we bring our puppy to our photoshoot?"
The short answer is YES! Puppies are always welcome (as long as the location you've chosen allows for them, of course)!
I do recommend bringing a friend to lend a hand if you do not intend for your puppy to be in every photo.
In this case, the family had not only had their sweet guy in obedience classes very young but they also planned to have him in all of the family photos and didn't have small children. If they'd been a family with very little kids I'd have recommended a helper. Dogs must be kept on a leash and picked up after (so come prepared), however be aware that I can edit the leash out in most cases.
The "H" family was so much fun–down to earth and cracking jokes through their session. Their puppy–Gus–was a big baby and 100% spoiled! Mom later told me they take him on a drive most evenings because he enjoys it, haha!
Their older son is a senior and they wanted to have a photoshoot as a family before he leaves for college. I was so honored to be able to capture this season in the life of their family and absolutely love that they also chose prints through my photo lab. I do a happy dance every time I get to package up some beautiful prints, knowing how much they mean to my families.
Thank you "H" family for entrusting me with something so lasting and meaningful to your family. I hope you treasure these for a lifetime!
More about my Favorite boyce, va Photoshoot location
Blandy/The VA State Arboretum is invaluable to our community on so many levels, but it also happens to be a highly favored location for photoshoots. Why? Here are just a few reasons:
The grounds are extensive and beautifully kept
It's open dawn to dusk allowing for sunrise/sunset portraits
It's open every day
There's no entry or photography fee
There are endless possibilities for backdrops (see above!)
There is shade (allowing for mid-day sessions when the light is harsh)
They have restrooms for clothing changes and bathroom breaks
They allow leashed dogs (I edited the pup's leash out here)
It's such a gift to our community and I take the property seriously, never leaving behind litter (which means no glitter or confetti!) or damaging the beautiful landscape. I expect each of my clients to respect the property as well. If you wish to do confetti images for graduating seniors this is something I can accommodate using photoshop. No mess needed! The volunteers work hard to maintain the grounds and some visitors have chosen to leave litter behind, which means photographers as a whole take the blame and this could result in the arboretum requiring a photography fee. Please help us keep Blandy a clean, free resource!
If you would like to make a donation to Blandy you may do so here: https://blandy.virginia.edu/content/online-paymentsdonations-0
